**Beni Massacres: Commemoration of the 10th Anniversary – A Duty to Remember and Act for Peace**
October 15, 2014 remains etched in the memories of the inhabitants of the Beni region, in the North Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of Congo. On this fateful date, the violence of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) struck the Ngadi and Nzuma neighborhoods head-on, thus inaugurating a decade of terror and massacres perpetrated against innocent civilians.
Ten years later, mourning and anger persist among the local population, faced with the daily horror of the loss of loved ones, the destruction of villages and ongoing insecurity. The commemoration of this macabre anniversary took on a solemn character, marked by a procession in homage to the victims, followed by an ecumenical service in Ngadi, the symbolic site of the first killings.
Beyond the duty of remembrance, this commemoration was an opportunity for civil society in Beni to forcefully recall the urgent need to act to restore peace and security in this wounded region. The urgent calls to the Congolese authorities resonate as an urgency to take concrete measures to put an end to the persistent insecurity and the impunity of armed groups.
Given the complexity of the situation and the scale of the challenges to be met, the construction of a memorial in memory of the victims and the identification of missing persons appear to be essential steps to pay tribute to the innocent victims and bring justice to their bereaved families.
Despite the efforts made by the Congolese armed forces and their international partners to neutralize the ADF, the threat persists and requires sustained and coordinated mobilization to overcome it. The cooperation between the Congolese army and the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) presents itself as a glimmer of hope in the fight against armed groups that sow terror and chaos.
On this painful anniversary of the Beni massacres, it is time for commemoration, but also for action. The commitment of everyone, from local authorities to ordinary citizens, is essential to build a future of peace and reconciliation in a region scarred by violence and tragedy. It is time to honour the memory of the victims by working tirelessly for a better future, where peace and justice will finally triumph.